France is the birthplace of cinema. It was here, in the country of eternal romance, in 1895 that the first film was screened. An important component of French cinema is comedy. Louis De Funes, Pierre Richard, Bourville - the great comedians of the XX century. And this is not a complete list of actors who have made French comedies famous all over the world.
Louis de Funes
A small hot-tempered man with a big nose, often falling into ridiculous situations - this is the main character of the best French comedies of the 50-70s. However, paintings with Louis de Funes became classics of world cinema. Europe and America learned about French comedies in the 50s thanks to the unsurpassed play of this actor. By the way, films were very popular in the country that existed 70 years behind an invisible and lasting curtain - in the USSR.
The actor was 36 years old when German troops occupied his homeland. True, in those years, de Funes was not a famous comedian. He worked as a music teacher. A woman who later became the artist’s wife said of him like this: "A little man divinely playing jazz." De Funes was a talented pianist and brilliant comedian. He played his first film role after the end of the war. It was the film Barbizon Temptation.
List of the best French comedies with Louis de Funes
- "Not caught, not a thief".
- Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard.
- "Great walk."
- "Open sore."
- "Wing or leg."
- "Gendarme and Gendarmes."
The filmography of Louis de Funes is extensive, and he began acting in mature years. The best French comedies of the sixties were films about the adventures of the Gendarme. De Funes continued to act in the seventies. He could not refuse his beloved job even after having suffered two heart attacks. The last role of the great comedian is the role of senior vahmister Kryusho in the film “The Gendarme and Gendarmes”.
Pierre Richard
More than half a century has passed since the first picture with the participation of this actor was released. When it comes to the best French comedies, they always recall the name of Pierre Richard. Films with his participation are funny and touching. The images that he created on the screen wonderfully combine lyricism with comic.
The best French comedies with Richard are described in more detail below. Hollywood directors filmed more than a dozen remakes of paintings of 60-70 years. True, none of these films can be compared with the famous French comedies.
A tall blond man in a black boot in real life is a sensible, punctual man and not at all absent-minded. In any case, this is how colleagues speak of Richard. The actor was born in the family of a large industrialist, but received his secondary education in an ordinary boarding house where the children of workers studied. When Pierre told his relatives that he was going to go to drama courses, he was confused. Despite the protests of relatives, the young man became an actor, one of the most famous comedians of the 20th century.
The list of the best French comedies with Pierre Richard includes the films "Toy", "Unlucky", "Dad", "Runaways", "An Umbrella Tuck".
"Toy"
Why was this movie on the list of French comedies, popular for several decades? A toy is not just a story about a failed journalist. This is a deep, one might say, philosophical picture that makes you think.
Millionaire Rambalu-Cochet makes money all his life. He does not know how to appreciate simple human relationships. He can only buy. And in the same spirit brings up a son. The world of Ramballu-Kochet collapses after he buys a toy for his son - an unemployed journalist, a loser. This small, dependent person enters into the struggle with the all-powerful owner of factories and steamboats. Oddly enough, Rambalu-Cochet is losing. It is he who turns out to be a loser, because he does not know how to love loved ones, respect subordinates.
Richard and Depardieu
The best French comedies of the eighties are films with the participation of the famous duo. For the first time, Pierre Richard and Gerard Depardieu appeared together on the screen in 1981, in the film "Unlucky". Comedy was a success not only in France, but also abroad. The director, of course, decided to take advantage of the popularity of the acting tandem and made two more films - “Runaways”, “Daddies”. These films can also be safely included in the list of French comedies that have become classics of world cinema.
Bourville
This is a diverse actor who has become famous for both dramatic and comic roles. In addition, Bourville was known in France as a pop singer. The film “Razinya”, one of the best French comedies, was mentioned above. The film was released on Soviet screens in 1965. The hero of Bourville was voiced by Rostislav Plyatt.
A year later, the comedy “Big Walk” was premiered, in which the actor again appeared in tandem with Louis de Funes. Director Gerard Uri is the creator of a colorful duo (for the first time, Bulville and de Funes appeared together in Razin). He managed to contrast the heroes with different temperaments. The character of Bourville is a phlegmatic. Hero de Funes is a choleric. Characters belong to different social layers. These French comedies owe their popularity to the brilliant duet of talented actors and directorial work.
The film "Super Brain" was released in 1969. Now Bourvil appeared on the screen in tandem with the then-novice actor, who later became famous in films of a far from comedic genre - Jean-Paul Belmondo.
The director of the picture is Gerard Uri, who shot films such as “Escape”, “Mania of Greatness”. It is worth saying a few words about these old French comedies.
"The escape"
The main roles were played by Pierre Richard and Victor Lana. The comedy reflects the events of 1968 that led to the resignation of Charles de Gaulle. The picture was released in 1978. She was not as widespread success as other films with Richard.
"Megalomania"
The film was released seven years before the premiere of "Escape". This is a film adaptation of the work of Victor Hugo. Events take place in Spain in the XVII century. The main character, performed by Louis de Funes, is trying in every possible way to defend the interests of aristocrats, while the poor are strangled by prohibitive taxes. Despite the popularity of French cinema, in the Soviet Union this picture was banned. The fact is that one of the main roles was played by Yves Montand, who was reckless in the late sixties to express harsh criticism about the events in Czechoslovakia.
“One chance for two”
The film can not be attributed to the old French comedies - was released in 1998. In addition, there are elements of an action movie in it. Nevertheless, this is a good film, filled with humor. The main roles were played by the stars of French cinema - Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. The actors played two completely different people. The only thing that unites them is a daughter ...
The plot of the film is a bit like the story that underlies the comedy "Dad" with Richard and Depardieu. In the life of two elderly people, a girl appears. Each of them considers her his daughter. The main character was played by Vanessa Paradis.